If this isn't the face of summer, I don't know what is.








There's just something about baby feet. mmmmmmm. . .


Take some time today to enjoy the "little things", and while you're at it, make someone else's day better with something "little" too.

Thankful

I have been a little down these past few days. Not sure why, no big reason, but i know that the best way to combat this is to recognize how many wonderful things I have to be thankful for. So forgive me today as I list some of the many things I am thankful for (in no particular order):

*hot, Haitian coffee every morning

*kids who sleep well

*health

*my husband's job

*dvr

*listening to Noel make Elise laugh

*a good book (or 2)

*my guitar

*air conditioning

*a car that runs

*the internet

*getting to stay home with my kids

*truth

*Top Chef

*my kitchen

*hand-me-down toys, especially those with wheels and batteries

*baby wipes

*all the water I ever need

*chocolate

*my parents

Take a moment today to think about what you are thankful for, especially when you are tempted to complain. A little perspective goes a long way.

all out of ideas

It has been a fun summer that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Not only did I get to go to Haiti and take a mini-vacation with my husband, we also are planning an end-of-the-summer camping trip that will take place in a couple of weeks. I really think the kids have had a fun summer. We've tried every park in town (and some surrounding towns). Noel ran in the Coyote Kids races. We did story time and the reading program at the library. We've been swimming. Had popsicles. Gone on walks. Made homemade sidewalk chalk paint. Learned about the garden. Played outside. Even got in the sandbox a time or two.

But I'm on empty.

I've completely run out of ideas.

And with a week and a half to go before school starts, I'm a little stir crazy. I've been trying to stay clear of stores, because that just leads to unneeded spending, but we might have to visit Rural King today. At least I won't be tempted to buy too much there.

Does anyone have any free, fun ideas for a 3 year-old and a 15 month-old for the end of summer?

There is room enough for all of us

God loves everyone.

Would you agree with that statement? I know most of us would quickly say, "Of course! John 3:16! You bet!"

Then how come most of us don't live that way?

As I finished reading the book of Jonah, I was sad and convicted. Here Jonah finally does what God says and goes to Ninevah. He preaches that the people need to turn to the one, true God, and they do. Time to rejoice, right?

Wrong.

Instead, Jonah is angry.

Say what?

He prays to God to take his life, because he is so upset.

See, Jonah believed that the Israelites were God's chosen people, and that the Ninevites didn't deserve the same love and blessing from their God. But that wasn't God's plan.

I read this, and I'm so sad for Jonah, because his outreach was actually working, but he was missing the entire thing. God even gives him a little object lesson where he grows a vine to shade Jonah and then takes it away, showing him that we have no right to question who God takes care of and how He takes care of them, because it's all God.

And at first I read this, shaking my head, thinking, "Poor Jonah, he really missed the boat (no pun intended!) on this one."

And then I realize that we are guilty of this all of the time. We pick and choose who we think "deserves" to know about God's love. We surround ourselves, our time, our activities, with people who we like. People we agree with. People who are similar to us in one way or another. And most of the time we forget completely about those out there who don't know God's love and the amazing gifts He has waiting for them.

Am I taking any action to make sure as many people experience God's love as possible? Or do I focus on those around me who are easy to love?

I don't want to repeat Jonah's mistakes.

If you think your house is small, try the belly of a whale!

As I read Jonah 2, I had this whole blog post planned about how cool it was that Jonah spent his time praising God after he had been swallowed up by the huge fish. Why was he praising God? Because the alternative to being swallowed was death, and Jonah was incredibly grateful that God saved him from death. I also had this paragraph planned about how we can relate to the wordings that Jonah uses (distress, hurled into the deep, banished from God's sight, threatened), and how we should be thankful for God's salvation from all of those things.

Until I read verse 8

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

And I couldn't get past that verse.

How many times have I read Jonah? How many sermons, Sunday School lessons, youth group skits, Veggie Tales movies, etc. have I experienced about Jonah and missed this verse.

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

Our culture is full of worthless idols. In fact, anything we hold onto that isn't God is a worthless idol compared to Him. Money, material things, career, education, achievements, reputation, even relationships can NEVER take the place of God.

What am I clinging to that I am missing out on God's amazing grace?

What are you clinging on to?

I heard an illustration by Rob Bell one time in which he talks about his son picking up shells at the beach. He has his hands full of broken shells when he finally sees a beautiful sand dollar, and he really wants to pick it up. Rob is telling him to drop the broken shells and grab the sand dollar, but his son doesn't want to lose all of the broken shells he has collected. He doesn't realize that all of those shells are meaningless compared to the sand dollar.

Today, I want to encourage myself (and anyone who is reading this) to let go of the broken shells and embrace God and His wonderful grace. You can't grab onto him if your hands are full.

Sink or Swim?

I started reading the book of Jonah today. I'm trying to look at it with fresh eyes and an open mind, because I think everyone knows this story so well that it's become cartoonish in our memories. As I read Jonah 1, I had some new thoughts:

*When God told Jonah (told, not asked), Jonah headed in the opposite direction for Tarshish. At first glance it looks like Jonah was just running away from God. But looking more closely I really think Jonah was planning on doing good things in Tarshish. What he was trying to do was what HE wanted versus what GOD wanted. It wasn't that Jonah was headed to be a pagan in Tarshish. He just didn't want to preach to the people in Ninevah. They were wicked and, in Jonah's opinion, didn't deserve to hear about God's truths. He probably had plans of telling the Tarshites (I just made that word up) about God's Word. But that was not what God told him to do.
Which leads me to the question: Is God telling me to do the things I'm doing "for Him"? Or am I doing it because I want to do it? Are there people whom God is telling me to minister to that I don't want to because I have a bias against them? Are there some people I think don't deserve to hear about God's love and forgiveness? I'd like to say no, but it's really easy to do. Think of those in prison, drug addicts, homeless, hard-to-love people. . .the list could go on and on.

No one is worthy of God's love. That's what makes it all the more amazing.

*This whole book emphasizes that God can use anything to speak to us. Weather, animals, pagan men on a ship, a tree, etc.
Does God still use these things to speak to us? Am I listening when He speaks in these ways? Not to over-spiritualize everything, but am I paying attention to what is going on around me and considering what God has to say though it?

*God takes our circumstances RIGHT WHERE WE ARE and uses them for His glory. Jonah ended up on a boat full of men who worshipped various pagan Gods. He ended up telling them about the one, true God. And when they threw him overboard (at his request), not only did the storm stop, but they acknowledged Jonah's God.
God is using every experience and occasion for His glory---if I act accordingly.

Just some thoughts from Jonah 1. More to come. . .

Because everybody wants to see more Traverse City!

Just wanted to share a few photos and memories from our second day in Traverse City. I know everyone was just at the edge of their seats yesterday, thinking, "Yes, but what did they do the next day?"

Well, let me tell you.

First we enjoyed breakfast at the lovely hotel (sorry, no pictures), and then headed off to play mini-golf. The 18 holes were filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, balls in the water, and off the green. We had a great time!



At one point, I was winning, if you can believe it. I even got a hole in one.





But of course my golfer husband stayed the course and beat me in the end.






After golfing, we drove up to Leeland, which is at the top of a peninsula. The drive is beautiful, and Leeland is a quaint little town. We did a little shopping, walked a lot, and ate at The Cove, which had wonderful fish and chips.





Their signature drink was called the 'Chubby Mary', which was a Bloody Mary with clams in it. I'll pass, thank you.




We did more sightseeing, including another winery, which was beautiful. We also stopped off at the beach for a while. Sorry, no pictures of the beach. I have terrible luck with breaking cameras, and didn't want to even risk getting sand in ours.

For dinner we went to Boone's, which is kind of out in the country, but has great food and a fun atmosphere. There is a huge deck where you can eat and enjoy the view. Plus, there was some live entertainment. Two guys played guitar, and although they reminded us several times that their cd's were for sale, SOMEHOW we didn't get one. :)

After dinner, we drove back into downtown Traverse City to enjoy an outdoor movie on a huge inflatable screen. It was so much fun!!!



Who doesn't love a little "Raising Arizona"?




Anyway, Happy Early Anniversary, sweetheart! Every year brings my heart closer to yours.

Lovebirds on Vaca

This past week, David and I got to leave the kids with his parents and head to Traverse City for a little anniversary getaway. It is the first time we've been away together since Elise was born, so it was much needed. We were gone for only 2 nights, but we packed as much fun into those 2 nights as possible. And let me tell you that Traverse City is a really fun place to go. We hit the beach, played mini-golf (more on that later), visited a lighthouse, went to 2 wineries, did some window shopping, watched a movie at a film festival, and ate at some great restaurants.

But the best part was just being together. With 2 little ones around, it's hard to have long, in-depth conversations, so this was a wonderful time to just talk about whatever we wanted. And laugh. My husband cracks me up. This trip made me thankful all over again for our marriage, our friendship, and the way God works in wonderful ways every day.









Getting some soda on the way. I love me some fountain drinks!




David enjoying his sandwich at North Peak Restaurant. We ate almost every meal outside. The weather was beautiful!







We visited a couple of wineries, mainly for the scenery. It was so pretty with all of the rolling hills full of vineyards. Made me want to start my own.









The two of us at the Old Mission Lighthouse

Penny for your thoughts

Our lives are cluttered. We have emotional clutter, relationship clutter, spiritual clutter, and of course material clutter.

Stuff.

We are overloaded with stuff. I was very aware of it before Haiti, but ever since I've been back it is even more apparent that we as a nation are consumed with consuming. We have to be buying something all of the time. Most of us (myself included) buy something every day, and a lot of that is not necessary. I look around at all of the things that fill our house, and realize that I could throw probably 60% of it away and still live my life exactly the same.

I want to change that. I don't want to buy things any more that are just things that we want for the moment, or something that will make me feel good for a little while. I want to think about how we spend our money and make sure it is put to good use. Now, I'm not saying we are going to live miserable, penny-pinching lives. I'm saying that when we buy something, it's going to mean something.

Sometimes we (especially women) can't seem to pass up a good deal, even though we didn't need that item to begin with. That is why I have quit going to garage sales for a while. They were an amazing resource when my kids were babies and I actually needed certain clothing items for them. But as I look at their full closets, and I know that there are even more clothes in storage for them as they get bigger, I realize that what I'm looking for at garage sales is not necessary for the time being. Shopping shouldn't be my pasttime anymore, and believe me, it is a fun pasttime that I miss at times.

I want to find the balance where money is not something I spend lots of time thinking about. I don't want to dwell of the "stuff" that I want, and I don't want to spend hours figuring out how to save 33 cents on a box of cereal. I want to live life to the fullest and not get bogged down with stuff. I want my children to see that what is in this house is nothing compared to who is in this house.

Summer of Our Youth

This summer I have had the privilege (and I know that sounds odd to some of you) of spending lots of time with high school students. First, I went with them to Haiti. I've also been teaching a Bible study on Sunday mornings with them. Last week, most of them headed off to church camp, and while I couldn't make it for the week, I did go up for a day to visit. Yesterday I got to help lead music for our jr. high/sr. high worship service. And last night I went with several of them to Kokomo Urban Outreach. On Sunday afternoons Kokomo Urban Outreach grills out and serves hot dogs, chips, drinks, and snacks in one of the low-income housing neighborhoods in our town. They also have a table full of fresh produce which they give away. While they are doing that, we come and play with the kids. It takes zero preparation and hardly any effort, but it makes for a fun-filled afternoon. We played baseball, drew with sidewalk chalk, blew bubbles, and jump-roped (is that a word?). And all I could think about was how proud I am to be a part of this youth ministry.

Teenagers are often stereotyped as lazy, selfish, materialistic, and shallow. And some definitely are. But aren't a lot of adults the same way?

Over my 10 years as a youth leader, I have come to see that teenagers rise to the occasion when given the opportunity. They are hard workers. They give of themselves. They bring laughter and insight. They aren't content to stop changing and growing. They have hopes and dreams, and (I hope) a goal to share God's love with those around them.

Some people think it's a chore to spend my summer with high school students. I consider it an honor.

What I'm Diggin' Right Now

Swimming. This is the first year that Noel has really enjoyed getting in the water. He took some swim lessons at the beginning of the summer and loves to play. I've always loved to swim, so it is fun to see him learn to enjoy it. Elise is still on the fence about whether she likes it or not.

The Garden. Our garden isn't doing quite as well as last year, but we are still getting lots of good veggies. This week we froze sweet corn, got overloaded with cucumbers, and picked the first tomato of the summer. I can almost taste the fresh salsa.

Air Conditioning. It has been hot. And I am very appreciative that we have a cool house to live in.

Popsicles. We found these popsicles at Meijer that are kind of like Pop-Ice, but they come in a mesh bag. Anyway, the flavors are way better than Pop-Ice: Mango, Coconut, Pina Colada, etc. I have to remember to stock up every time I see them at the store.

Vacation Plans. Next week David and I are getting away by ourselves for the first time since Noel was a year and a half. We're leaving the kids with David's mom and heading to Traverse City for 2 days. Very excited to spend some time together and not have to wipe anything (a nose, a bottom, a face, a counter, anything!)

Music. I get to lead music for the jr. high/sr. high service Sunday morning. I love getting the chance to do that.

Reading. I've been reading some really good books lately. Right now I'm enjoying The Poisonwood Bible.

Bargains. I haven't done much shopping lately. Haiti has really convicted me about what I need versus what I want. But I did get some great deals on a couple of new work shirts for David, and I got a t-shirt for me that rang in at $1.06 after I used a coupon.

What are you enjoying this summer?

In a pickle (subtitle: Is it illegal to poison your neighbor's dogs?)

I love my house. I love our back yard, the memories we've made here, the swing David made us, the big picture window where I can be very nosy. I love the fact that we fell in love in this house, became engaged in this house, brought both of our children (and Tee Dog) home to this house. I love walking on the sidewalks and being able to walk to a nearby park.

But I hate, I repeat HATE the dogs next door.

There are dogs all over our neighborhood, and I don't mind the occasional barking. I know our dog does her fair share. But you haven't heard the likes of these dogs. They are owned by Wendy, our 40-some year old neighbor, and her daughter. I understand that Wendy wants to keep said dogs for security reasons or whatever, but I have never seen her interact with the dogs. Ever.

Combine that with the fact that they are fenced in the back yard 100% of the time and are surrounded on either side by other dogs (ours included), and you have yourself a recipe for some Barky VonSchnauzertons.

They bark when you are in the back yard.
They bark when you are in the front yard.
They bark when cars go by.

And for all of those barks I am more than understanding.

It's the barking at night that takes me over the edge. Most nights, some time around 1-3, they are just going bonkers out there. Bonkers. For hours. And it makes me crazy (not to mention my patient, loving husband, who is at this moment researching animal poisons and how to cover them up).

Over the past several weeks they have kept themselves busy by trying to dig out of their yard. Every time they are successful, Wendy blocks up their holes. But last night one of the dogs got himself in a pickle. He dug himself out, but then didn't know what to do. So he decided to stand right outside our bedroom window and bark. And bark. And bark. This was around 12:45 am.

David tried to put him back in, but he ran right back out and started barking again. He (David, not the dog) even resorted to knocking on Wendy's door at 1 am. No answer. Either this woman is never home or is dead to the world when she's asleep. Eventually, David used some old bricks and a battery for a toy car to block the spot and the dogs stopped barking. But we definitely don't want to do this every night.

Any ideas what we should do?? I'm trying to keep a look out for Wendy today to see if we can talk to her about it. Either that or heading to buy some poison. Whichever comes first.

A bag of cucumbers is all it takes

Over the past few weeks, I have really tried to start teaching Noel about service. Throughout his life he has been with us when we serve in different ways, but I realized that I need to make sure he understands why we do the things we do and go the places we go. It has started some really good talks between us, and I'm excited to see him learn more about helping others.

For example, yesterday we took cucumbers to Kokomo Urban Outreach. Our garden is overflowing with cucumbers, and there's only so many you can eat (although my husband tries to break records in that area). We had several extras, so we put them in a bag and headed out. Kokomo Urban Outreach, led by Jeff Newton, is doing wonderful things to help the people in Kokomo, especially those in financial need. Their church is right across the street from a low-income housing unit, and they have several other sights where they have set up headquarters to help other neighborhoods in great need. They realize that children who usually get the free lunch at school have nothing to eat for lunch during the summer, so they provide lunch. Every weekday. All summer. All on donations and volunteering.

It's a beautiful thing.

So I feel kind of silly just coming in with a bag of cucumbers and some non-perishables for the food pantry. But I wanted Noel to see service in action. We had a conversation on the way there about how some families don't have any food in their fridge. He asks, "Not even fruit snacks?" He's trying to get the concept! So he carries in the bag of cucumbers, and we take them to the office. I explain to them what we have and hand them off, and the nicest lady comes over to Noel, leans down and says, "Did you bring these for us?"

He nods.

She says, "There are some people who are going to have a wonderful salad today, thanks to you."

And Noel gets the biggest smile on his face.

I know it wasn't much, and I know it's gonna take a lot more than a bag of cucumbers to teach Noel about loving others like God loves them.

But it's a start.

Do something today to share God's love.

Pray with me

I'm going to do something that I don't normally do on my blog. I'm going to ask anyone who is reading this to do something. Usually my blogs are just for you to read what's inside my brain, but I feel compelled, and I need you (all 3 of you who might read this!!) to join me.

My friend Ginny needs a truck.

And I mean needs.

Ginny is a missionary in Haiti. She lives there full time with her 18 month-old daughter, Odessa, who was rescued from a mother trying to get rid of her about two months ago. Ginny lives in Jacmel and works in Jacmel and in Peredo, doing about a hundred different things to help the people of Haiti, but mainly in the medical area (she's a nurse from the Columbus area). She goes to Tent City and brings them much needed medicine. She holds medical clinics. She teaches about nutrition and childcare. And that's just the beginning.

But she has no vehicle.

For the summer, she is borrowing another missionary's truck because he is in the states. But even that truck doesn't run well. Case in point: yesterday was the first day of a nutrition program she is leading for pregnant moms. The truck broke down, so she had to take a tap-tap. A tap-tap is a pick-up truck that holds about 25 people in the back and takes you where you need to go. The problem is that you have to wait on a tap-tap and you don't know when or where it's going. And Peredo is an hour drive.

She needs a truck.

I feel like God has put it on my heart not just to pray, but to do something to help Ginny get the transportation she needs. I'm not sure what that "something" is just yet, so I'm praying. Getting a vehicle in Haiti is much more of a process than here in the states. You can't get a loan for one, and you can't rent one. And they have to be very durable to go thru all of the areas you have to drive through.

So I'm asking you to pray, too. Pray for a way to get HCO another vehicle that Ginny (an whoever else needs it)can use to keep showing God's love all over Haiti.

On the agenda

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love a good to-do list. I feel such satisfaction crossing everything off as I "accomplish" tasks. Sometimes I even cheat a little by a)putting things on the list I've already done and b)writing down the most simple jobs (ie. eat lunch, change diapers) so that I feel more satisfaction.

Today is David's birthday. He is not much for birthdays, so we don't have anything huge planned. Plus, we had dinner with some friends Saturday night, which was SO MUCH FUN! (Thanks, Craws and Millers). Today, Noel and I are going to bake him a cake and decorate a card. Then we have some laundry and sweeping and mopping to do. Also on the list is getting a birthday gift for one of Noel's friends, so I get to check out the new Big Lots. Then there is the picking up, straightening, re-picking up, re-straightening of the house, which is an endless job with a 15 month-old and an almost 4 year-old.

But sometimes I get so focused on what "needs" to be done that I miss the fun and enjoyment of the every day. I miss the laughter my kids bring me, the time they want to spend playing outside, the sunshine and sweat and running and chasing and on and on and on. I've been trying really hard to leave our schedules open so that we can enjoy the summer, not just plow through it as fast as possible. So, today I'm reminding myself that even though there are lots of things that can be done, nothing is more important than being a servant to those around me, whether that is my kids, my spouse, my friends, strangers in need, or someone else.

Take time to look around today. Do something that's not on your list, and leave a comment about how it went.

Final (not really) thoughts on Haiti

I wanted to share a few overall lessons that I learned while on our trip to Haiti. This is by no means the end of my conversations about Haiti. I hope the people there, the mission, the school, the needs will always weigh heavy on my heart. But as I look back over my time, I took some things away from it:

*Lizards aren't as scary as they used to be.

*Language barriers are just challenges to communcation--don't stop trying.

*Patience. Patience. Patience.

*Throw your plan out the window and go with the flow.

*Missionaries are amazing people, and they make really good friends!

*Haiti doesn't need our junk. If you were going to throw it away or send it to Haiti, just throw it away. We threw out lots of expired food and medicine that people had donated that was wasted time, energy, and weight in someone's bags.

*My prayers are different now. I know names and faces. I've played with them, worked alongside them, laughed with them, even cried with them.

*We need to think globally--the world is much bigger than the U.S. and it's time we realize that.

*Some things we consider "needs" are not even necessary.

*I need to make every day count.

The American Dream

I've been reading this book by David Platt called Radical. I'm not going to lie, it's a tough read. Not because it's confusing or boring, but because it is convicting to the point where I have to stop and digest what I've read before I move on. It's challenging me to change not only my ideas but my actions. And I want to change.

The book as a whole is about how we as Christians in America have gotten those 2 things all mixed up together, and in doing so have watered down what it means to be a Christian. Somehow we have come to believe that it's okay to have everything we want, live comfortable lives, enjoy everything we've earned, and then add church attendance to the end of that list.

But is that really what God wants?

Is that what the Bible is about?

Are we really studying and living out the Bible and what Jesus said to us while He was here on earth, or are we doing what we do because that's what all of the Christians around us are doing?

The "American Dream", in a nutshell, is all about working hard and achieving whatever you dream. And while there is nothing wrong with working hard, we need to be focusing on what God is doing and how He can work through us, not what we can achieve at our church with more programs, different songs, better preaching, etc. We have lost our need for faith in a God so much bigger than a church service or youth program.

And our faith should be taking us outside of our comfort zones. Probably even outside of our country.

Here are just a few quotes from his book that I found thought-provoking:

"God has designed a radically global purpose for our lives. . .to spend all of our lives for the sake of all of God's glory in all of the world."

"There are 4.5 billion people who, if the gospel is true, at this moment are separated from God in their sin. . .and most of them live outside the United States.. .Our hearts should be consumed with making the glory of God known in all nations."

"Would you say that your life is marked right now by desperation for the Spirit of God? Would you say that the church you are a part of is characterized by this sense of desperation?"

"The resources of heaven are ready and waiting for the people of God who desire to make much of Him in this world."

I want to make much of Him. I'm tired of making much of myself. I want to turn away from the American Dream and live God's dream. I want to take the blessings I've been given and use them to bless others. I hope you'll join me.

My Friend, the Library

I must confess, I'm in a love affair. With the library. I love the library. All of the books, movies, magazines, all at the tip of your fingers for little to nothing. If you don't lose anything (which I've come close to, but that's a subject for another post).

Anyway, here are some things that I love about the library.

1. Story time. Most libraries offer a free story time for kids of all ages, and we definitely take advantage of it. It's fun, it's a place to meet people with kids the same age, and everyone loves our story time lady, Jo Kay.

2. Computers. Noel loves playing on the computer. It's the only activity in the house that I actually have to set a timer for, or else he would play all day on it. However, since he can't read, it's hard to find lots of different programs for him. However, the library has tons of games and programs that he can play on while I look for books. Plus, there are headphones. Need I say more?

3. Games. Both libraries we visit have lots of actitives out for the kids: puzzles, legos, and a reading loft to name a few.

4. "Request this Item". If you haven't taken advantage of your library's website, you should. You can look up where anything is, but more importantly, you can click a little button called "Request this Item" and they will hold it for you at the front desk. It's awesome. I can find all of my books and they call me when they're available.

5. Summer Programs. This summer we have had the chance to do several different summer activities that the library has planned. Noel has won prizes for reading books, we went to an animal show where we got to pet an alligator, and they had a bubble truck (you'll have to ask Noel about it--highlight of his summer--but I was in Haiti). It gives us fun stuff to do that's free and educational. Okay, the bubble truck might not have been the most educational, but you get the idea.

Now, there are a few things I don't like about the library (they charge for movies and music, they don't have a great selection of the newer books I'd like to read, due dates), but overall it is a great place to go. I'm trying to instill a love for reading into my son, and the library is helping me do that.

Read on!!!

We interrupt this blogging

I know, I know, I've been blogging about Haiti for what seems like forever. So, for a change of pace, I need to share about one of the highlights of the summer for all of us Wittenbachs. You know you want some: I'm talking about the Howard County Fair.

Now, the fair is an amazing place. And when I say amazing, I mean that I'm amazed at the people, things, food, situations I encounter while I'm there. It's so much that I really can handle it for just one day a year. Any more and I'd be on fair-overdose. I love the collision of the different worlds: On one side you have the 4-H'ers. They are there to show animals or exhibit their projects. On the other side you have the carnival people. They are there to ride rides, find dates, show off new tattoos, and get some meat on a stick. And then there are the many of us stuck in the middle, watching it all transpire.

Here are some highlights/lowlights (it's all the same) from this year's fair:
*Tractors.

Of course, for both David and Noel the tractors are the first things you have to see. Noel sat on or climbed on nearly every moving piece of machinery in the entire fair. Our tradition is to have him sit in the wheel of the combine for a picture, noting his growth from the year before.

Noel also got to ride on the Bumpy Barrels, which was pulled by a tractor. Noel LOVED it.

*Food. We made some critical errors this year in the dining experience at the fair. First, we sat outside to eat, which completely sucked the life out of us for the rest of the evening. Nothing like hot brisket in your gut while you're looking at pigs. mmmmmmm. Secondly, we ate too much at the first stop, leaving little room for "extras". However, we did enjoy our sandwiches and of course relished the lemon shake up. Noel was more excited about the free popcorn from the big barn. And speaking of the big barn,

*Free Stuff. We got popcorn, suckers, coloring pages, balloons, a tractor keychain, and as much fair dust as you can carry home on you, all for free.

*Last, but not least, Granpa Crachit. Now I've seen this puppet for many years driving around telling kids about the show, but this was the first year I had a child begging me to see him. So we got to watch good ol' Granpa Crachit and all of his antics, which for some reason, every child is completely enthralled by. And then at the end, Granpa gives a sales pitch for his DVD, which is only $5 and you can enjoy all year long! Needless to say, the show ended in tears because we wouldn't get Noel a video.

By the end of the night, both kids had cried, we were sweaty and dirty and way too full, and a little poorer for the wear, which means our trip was a complete success.

Happy Fairing!

Worship

One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Haiti was worshipping with Emmanuel Christian Church in Peredo. I wish I had some video footage of it, because words can't describe this. We pulled in (still riding in our cattle car--the church clothes were a nice touch) and church had already been going for quite a while. They had finished up Sunday School and were singing. There are no instruments, no p.a. system, no graphics on a screen. Just Toto leading 100+ believers in song. As soon as we came in, people moved children to the sides so we could have a seat (everyone is in church together--there aren't any other rooms!). I ended up sitting by Fanny and Cosine, two of the girls I had spent lots of time with so far on the trip. That turned out to be a bad thing, since they were both fighting so much that Gerard separated them during the sermon--yikes!

We sang a few hymns, most of which I could sing along to because they were old hymns I had grown up with. Then one man stood up and sang a song in Creole. It was really nice. Then another man came up. I found out later that this man was a new believer whose wife had been practicing voodoo until just a few months ago. He sang the song "He Touched Me" in English and then in Creole. I can tell you, there was barely a dry eye in the room. To look at this man and imagine all of the things he has gone through, and now finding out there is a Savior who loves Him and wants Him, it was completely evident on his face. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

Another "time-for tears" moment came when the students from our group got up and sang a worship song, led by my nephew on guitar. To see them all up there, singing with all of their hearts, about God changing them from the inside out, I don't think I've ever been more proud to be one of their leaders.

After communion and some more singing, Steve Allen, our preacher who came with us, preached while Gerard interpreted. It was great watching Gerard, because he is so animated, and you could tell that he was adding to what Steve was saying. The funniest part was when a cell phone went off. Gerard stopped the service to give a lecture to the church, but he was being really comical, telling them, "nobody cares what your ringtone is." I love him.

The whole service was beautiful, uplifting, emotional, and unforgetable. I love knowing that when we are in worship here in the states, that they are worshipping God all over the world, too. We can get so caught up in the latest songs, technology, etc. to try and wow the crowd, but if it's not from the heart, it's garbage. What matters is a heart focused on one thing: God.